Lt. Gov. Tsutsui will lead Hawaii’s sports development initiative

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui has been put in charge of Hawaii’s sports development initiative, which aims to build the state’s sports industry, Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Tuesday.

Hawaii already hosts such professional sports events as the NFL Pro Bowl and the PGA Tour’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in Hawaii, which bring in some $100 million a year, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

“This initiative will help to expand sports entertainment and participation opportunities in Hawaii, while also strengthening our visitor economy — particularly during the shoulder seasons when visitor arrivals are less robust,” Abercrombie said in a statement. “With Shan at the helm, we hope to take advantage of each island’s unique characteristics and bring athletic events that fit into their individual environments.”

The initiative will collaborate with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the University of Hawaii System, the Stadium Authority and private sports organizations to promote opportunities that establish Hawaii as a “premier sports destination for professional, amateur and youth athletics,” state officials said.

Improving sports facilities and developing “world-class, state-of-the-art venues” are also part of the initiative, which intends to attract sporing events and athletic training opportunities statewide.

“With this Sports Development Initiative, we have the opportunity to diversify our visitor industry and generate more revenue for our state,” Tsutsui said in a statement. “Everyone can benefit from this initiative — from keiki to kupuna. They will be able to either participate in or attend a variety of sporting events.”